LAKKI MARWAT
A daylong training workshop on the media role in eradication of polio for the Bannu and Lakki Marwat journalists was held at Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sarfraz Afridi of WHO, Technical Focal Person Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah, Communication Officer UNICEF Shadab Younas, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Iqbal Wazir, Dr Andrew Etsano and National Professional Officer Dr. Gedi Mohammad said that Pakistan had been working hard for the last 30 years to eradicate the polio virus with no polio cases reported in the last 19 months.
“We are very close to eradicating polio and that the media has been playing a vital role in raising awareness among the general public”, Dr Afridi said.
They said that rumors had been spread among the people regarding polio and masses were being misled.
They went on to say that the media should play its positive role in curbing the false rumours spread among the people.
“When reporting on anti-polio or health sector, be sure to seek comments from relevant experts so that no mistakes are likely to be made”, Shadab said.
The speakers maintained that Pakistan is the only country in the world where the history of health would be written with blood.
“Although we are working for the betterment of the health of the children, it is still the people who oppose us”, Dr Sarfraz said.
“We need security. Our security personnel, the health department personnel assisting in the fight against polio, are being targeted. Due to continuous anti-polio campaigns, the number of polio cases has come down drastically”, Dr Imtiaz said.
“Now we have to focus most of our attention on the Gypsies, Pounda and nomads people so that their children are not deprived of getting anti-polio drops as these people can cause the spread of the polio virus”, Dr Sarfraz said.
“Due to widespread fake finger marking in Bannu and Lakki Marwat, we have not yet been able to eradicate polio”, Dr Imtiaz said.
At the end, there was a question and answer session for the journalists in which questions were asked regarding anti-polio and the relevant experts gave detailed answers.
Before winding up the workshop, Dr Gedi Mohammad and Dr Andrew distributed certificates among the participants.
